The+Americas



ESPIRIT on Aztecs E- S- P- I- R- I- T-
 * City of **Tenochtitlan** was established in 1325; Aztecs conquered the people who they took land from
 * Dominated areas from the Tarascan frontier to the Maya area
 * **Chinampas**- beds of aquatic weeds, mud and earth that were placed in frames made of crane and put into the bottom of the lake; Formed very little islands; Provided water to all plants- More than 20,000 acres were created- Floating gardens
 * Cacao and gold dust were used as forms of currency
 * **Pochteca**- The merchant class who specialized in long distance trade
 * coco beans also used as currency
 * **obsidian**- volcanic rock- effective when used as weaponry
 * Distribution of goods were taken by authorities-They decided who to distribute it those who followed the Aztec rules and ways
 * most power and wealth was concentrated in the Aztec capital- surrounding areas were poorer; the wealthy lived in more populated areas
 * Aztecs were a tribe of 10,000 people who migrated to Lake Texcoco; After the fall of the Toltec Empire the Lake was dominated by people of mixed backgrounds; They were organized into city-states-Created shifting powers
 * Forced those they conquered to pay tribute, surrender lands and military service
 * conquered citizens were used for human sacrifice and they were acquired by the military
 * **Calpulli**- Clans of Aztecs that divided different functions to every member like distributing land, deciding heads of households, organizing labor groups, and creating militaires- had power- "almost like a guild and a Muslim clan combined" - Kevin Chan
 * Each individual was born into a social class
 * Nobles controlled the priesthood and military
 * Imperial family became more dominant than the pipiltin families
 * Calpulli was no longer active once nobles broke the chain; bought land and hired serf-like workers- low class and couldn't own land
 * Women were barely allowed out of the house; peasant-like- could work in the field; cooked; marriages arranged for them- able to inherit land and pass it on; spent 6 hours a day grinding corn for dinner
 * __women had equal rights but subordinate gender roles__
 * Aztecs spoke Nahatl- Same language as the Toltec
 * Aztecs defeated the Toltec Empire around 1150; Rose to power and formed an imperial state; People thought that the Aztecs were civilized and were exiled in the north; They knew how to farm and cultivate land; Others believe that the Aztecs were nomadic tribes that conquered the political anarchy once the Toltec Empire had fallen
 * Aztecs were disliked due to their intrusive military dominance- People wanted to side with them to become allies
 * **Moctezuma II**- became the most powerful king with civil power-Great Speaker; Elected by the nobility; Ruler of the Tenochtitlan; Had great power and much wealth; Considered a living god-Those who wanted to speak to him had to throw dirt at themselves to humiliate themselves,could not look him in the eye;
 * Prime minister- usually a close relative of the great speaker
 * Interacted with allies around the Tenochtitlan
 * Established dominance over those they ruled in the city-states
 * conquered lands to expand territory
 * captured people from other cities to practice human sacrifice
 * Aztecs were strict on their views of God; Offered human sacrifices;Made themselves feared by other tribes
 * Had more than 128 major deities-Each deity was broken down into male and female forms; Each god was worshiped through festivals, dancing, feasting, and (my favorite) sacrificing
 * Tlaloc was the god of rain
 * Most Aztecs were centered around the theme of creation; Warfare and Sacrifice had became the cult of the state
 * **Huitzilopochtli** was the patron that became the figure of the cult; known as the old sun god; Thought to be a warrior in the daytime fighting in the skies; Thought that because the gods sacrificed themselves they must also offer human life in the form of blood and flesh- that's where sacrificing came in- to help the gods, people were killed to show the people were worthy of them
 * They had many religious questions; Were gods real? Was there and afterlife?
 * Believed the gods created catastrophe
 * Toltec art depicted eagles eating human hearts, warrior cults, jaguars, exotic animals
 * Developed cannibalism as part of their cult- YUM!
 * Aztec images included flowers, birds, human hearts, blood, God, feasting, and singing
 * They had many religious questions; Were gods real? Was there and afterlife?
 * Powered Mills replaced animal or water powered objects
 * Architecture was primitive compared to Europe's Dark Ages
 * Chinampas- floating gardens- provided water to all plants- efficient

Summary: The Aztecs were a powerful tribe that started near the Gulf of Mexico. They established many traditions and created fear within their enemies because they were so violent and brutal. The Aztecs were very religious and even offered humans to their gods as gifts. They had over 128 gods, both male and female. Even though they questioned many of their views on religion, ultimately religion proved to be a major aspect of their lives.Once they conquered lands, they took the prisoners as slaves and forced them to work or sacrificed them. The chinampas had created a better form of agriculture which, in turn, provided a large source of food. However, technology was limited. But they were able to create mills for the purpose of providing energy. Their arts consisted of human sacrifice and bloody images which related to their offering to their gods.



ESPIRIT on Incas

E- S- P-
 * Inca Empire had a centralized system- Recognized each ethnic group and placed them in an imperial state
 * Created an extensive agricultural system
 * Areas along the Andean zone near Lake Titicaca were the centers of agriculture- Wars broke out
 * After Huayana's reign the empire stretched from Colombia to Chile and eastward towards Lake Titicaca and Bolivia to northern Argentina;Split into four great provinces; Ruled under a governor
 * large public works- construction- roads spanned thru the empire, supporting trade within; Incas didn't support long-distance trade
 * Fused the old Andean cultures together
 * Incans believed in mummification- people moved on the the afterlife-Cult of the dead
 * "people demanded labor more than food and commodities from their government"- Kevin Chan
 * women were supposed to be equal- but subordinated
 * Ayllus- Inca clan-
 * the Incan government tried to assimilate the Inca culture- conquered outside clans
 * After fusing the Andean cultures the Incas established an organized and bureaucratic state mixed with different cultures and languages- Still able to control and maintain their own powers
 * Coastal kingdom of Chimor- Centered on the capital of Chan-Chan; Became powerful and gained more power when the Incas conquered it in 1465
 * **Pachacuti** (1438-1471) Rose to power and created a strong military alliance**;** Acquired areas from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca
 * **Topac Yupanqui -**Pachacuti's son**-** Conquered the northern kingdom of Chimor; seized the irrigation system**;** Spread power to present day Ecuador
 * **Huayna Capac** (1493-1527) Ended the resistance of the Araucanian Indians
 * Split inheritance **-**Once a ruler died their political power and title went to their next successor**;** All their land and wealth went to male descendants
 * Inca rulers were considered to be gods; A high priest was usually his relative
 * Established a bureaucracy**;** All nobles played a key role; Local rulers could keep their power as long as they remained loyal to the Incas- Gained their privilege
 * Curacas were exempt from paying taxes; Gained labor and produce

I- R-
 * Conquered Mesoamerica- Eventually going towards the Andean highlands
 * Areas along the Andean zone near Lake Titicaca were the centers of agriculture- Wars broke out
 * Temple of the Sun was Located in Cuzco; Center of the state religion;The sun god was the most important
 * The Incas themselves represented the sun god; In the temple the mummies of past rulers were kept to be protected by the gods; They were still allowed to worship other deities;
 * Mountains, stones, rivers, caves, tombs, and temples were all considered to be holy shrines
 * Offerings were made to gods in these areas including animals, humans, food, and prayers
 * Male priests and women worked in temples; Temple priests were responsible for celebrations and preparations for the gods

I-
 * Rulers were mummified
 * festivals was held and food and gifts were offered to the gods
 * Rulers were to become an intermediate with the gods

T-
 * **Quipu** was a style of recording numerical information-
 * It was a system of knotted strings
 * quipu wasn't a form of written language

Summary: The Incas ruled the territory of Mesoamerica towards the Andes and Lake Titicaca. Religion was a very important factor of everyday life. Human sacrifices were often made to please the gods. The people who were sacrificed were often those captured in battle or prisoners. Sometimes those people were forced to work as slaves. The Incas had a bureaucratic government. Local rulers could remain in power if they remained loyal to the Incas. The economy of the Incas was agricultural based. The Incan Empire was the fusion of all the old Andean cultures. Many Incan rulers were focused on expanding territory while also pleasing the gods.